NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay and the State University of New York (SUNY) Old Westbury have announced a new collaboration aimed at expanding academic and research opportunities in engineering, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies. The partnership, formalised through a Letter of Intent (LoI) signed in New York, marks another milestone in the growing India-US higher education partnership.Welcoming the development, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the collaboration aligns with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which promotes the internationalisation of Indian higher education. In a post on X, the minister described the initiative as a step towards strengthening research, innovation, and global academic engagement.Collaboration to focus on emerging technologiesThe Letter of Intent was signed by IIT Bombay Director Prof Shireesh Kedare and SUNY Old Westbury President Dr Timothy E. Sams in the presence of Consul General of India in New York Binaya Pradhan. The partnership will explore collaborations in engineering, multidisciplinary research, technology, and other future-oriented disciplines, including artificial intelligence.Pradhan welcomed the announcement, stating, “I welcome the announcement of a Letter of Intent between IIT Bombay and SUNY Old Westbury to explore collaboration in engineering, multidisciplinary research, technology and other emerging areas of the future.” He also acknowledged the virtual participation of Indian Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra, SUNY Old Westbury President Dr Timothy Sams, IIT Bombay Director Prof Shireesh Kedare, and Consul General Binaya Pradhan in advancing the shared vision.NEP 2020‘s global outlookHighlighting the significance of international academic partnerships, the education minister said the collaboration reflects the aspirations of NEP 2020.“NEP 2020 places strong emphasis on the internationalisation of Indian higher education and encourages meaningful partnerships between our premier institutions and leading global universities,” Pradhan wrote.He added that such initiatives help strengthen India’s research ecosystem while creating new opportunities for learners and scholars.“Such collaborations enrich our research culture, open new avenues for our students, scholars and learners and build enduring bridges of knowledge to address global challenges while carrying India’s intellectual strengths to the world,” the minister said.Faculty exchange, joint research on the agendaAccording to SUNY Old Westbury, the institutions will initially focus on faculty and researcher exchanges, collaborative research projects, and the organisation of joint conferences and symposia. These efforts will lay the foundation for future academic programmes in science and engineering.IIT Bombay Director Prof Shireesh Kedare said the institute looks forward to working with SUNY Old Westbury, noting that the complementary strengths of both institutions could help the partnership “scale great heights.” SUNY Old Westbury President Dr Timothy E. Sams described IIT Bombay as a world-class institution and said the collaboration would strengthen teaching, innovation, and excellence while preparing the next generation of global leaders.
